Integrating genetics into conservation

将遗传学纳入保护

• 批准号: NE/H001824/1
• 负责人: Terence Burke
• 金额: $ 18.15万
• 依托单位: University of Sheffield
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2010 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=NE%2FH001824%2F1
• 关键词: Integrating; genetics; into; conservation

Conservation organisations are concerned with the protection of natural habitats and species, for their intrinsic value, the services they provide humanity and for their amenity value. Under international and local statutes, conservation organisations are obliged to prevent wild habitats from becoming degraded and halt or reverse the decline of species of conservation concern. This job is increasingly difficult given the extent of degradation and fragmentation of habitats and the threat of global changes, such as climate change. Until now, conservationists have been mainly concerned with habitats and species, and have neglected to consider a third strand of biodiversity called 'genetic diversity'. Genetic diversity can be found in all species. It is variation among individuals in DNA sequences that cause differences in their physical attributes, and is responsible for the familial resemblance among relatives. Genetic diversity is relevant to conservation in a number of ways. Firstly, many populations of endangered species are isolated and consist of small numbers of individuals. These populations often have little genetic variation, and this can hamper their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions through natural selection. Adaptation is key to success in conservation, because without it, species will be prone to extinction under environmental changes such as climate change. Secondly, small or isolated populations often consist of closely related individuals, and mating among these close-relatives can lead to inbred offspring that suffer immediate health problems. This can act as an additional burden on endangered species, making their populations more difficult to conserve. Thirdly, similar problems can occur due to inter-mating between very divergent populations. This may occur if human-aided movement of species brings previously separated populations into contact. Although these types of genetic problems are relatively well understood, there is no generic framework for assessing which species are at risk of which genetic problems, or decision-making tools to guide management actions. In addition, conservationists may be disinclined to incorporate these genetics problems into their action plans, because jargon and terminology in genetics can make the field inaccessible to conservationists without a genetics background. Our aim in this project is to enhance dialogue and the exchange of knowledge between researchers interested in genetic biodiversity, and wildlife conservationists. In doing this we will facilitate improved strategies to conserve species and enable the best use of genetic data in conservation programmes. Firstly we will develop a working group consisting of geneticists and conservationists to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, ensuring that geneticists are aware of the key conservation challenges, and conservationists are aware of when genetic information is likely to be useful. Secondly, we will evaluate previously published genetic information to fill gaps in understanding, and to determine when genetic problems are most likely. Thirdly we will develop a mechanism to assess the risk of genetic problems faced by any individual species, and link this to a framework recommending the best course to alleviate these problems. We will then test and refine this approach using species of conservation importance in the UK. Our fourth objective will provide standard protocols for choosing the sources of individuals for human-aided movement of plants or animals from one place to another. We will develop a system for recording the success and failure of these translocations to better inform future guidelines. Finally, our key goal is to make all of this information accessible. We will produce user-friendly handbooks aimed at explaining genetic issues in conservation, and will produce web-pages to assist conservation managers develop management strategies that incorporate genetic approaches.

保护组织关注自然栖息地和物种的保护，因为它们的内在价值，它们为人类提供的服务，以及它们的宜人价值。根据国际和当地法规，保护组织有义务防止野生栖息地退化，阻止或扭转受保护物种的衰落。鉴于生境退化和碎片化的程度以及气候变化等全球变化的威胁，这项工作变得越来越困难。到目前为止，自然资源保护者主要关注栖息地和物种，而忽视了生物多样性的第三个方面，即遗传多样性。遗传多样性在所有物种中都可以找到。正是DNA序列中个体之间的差异导致了他们的身体属性的差异，并导致了亲属之间的家族相似性。遗传多样性在许多方面与保护有关。首先，许多濒危物种的种群是孤立的，由少量的个体组成。这些种群的遗传变异通常很小，这可能会阻碍它们通过自然选择来适应不断变化的环境条件的能力。适应是保护成功的关键，因为如果没有适应，物种将容易在气候变化等环境变化下灭绝。其次，小的或孤立的种群通常由密切相关的个体组成，这些近亲之间的交配可能会导致近亲繁殖的后代立即出现健康问题。这可能会给濒危物种带来额外的负担，使它们的种群更难保护。第三，由于非常不同的种群之间的交配，可能会出现类似的问题。如果人类协助的物种移动使先前分离的种群接触，就可能发生这种情况。虽然对这些类型的遗传问题的了解相对较好，但没有评估哪些物种面临哪些遗传问题风险的通用框架，也没有指导管理行动的决策工具。此外，自然资源保护者可能不愿意将这些遗传学问题纳入他们的行动计划，因为遗传学中的行话和术语可能会使没有遗传学背景的自然资源保护者无法进入这一领域。我们在这个项目中的目的是加强对遗传生物多样性感兴趣的研究人员和野生动物保护者之间的对话和知识交流。通过这样做，我们将促进改进保护物种的战略，并使遗传数据能够在保护计划中得到最佳利用。首先，我们将建立一个由遗传学家和自然资源保护者组成的工作组，提供一个交流思想的论坛，确保遗传学家意识到关键的保护挑战，确保自然资源保护者知道基因信息何时可能有用。其次，我们将评估以前发表的遗传信息，以填补理解上的空白，并确定最有可能出现遗传问题的时间。第三，我们将开发一种机制，评估任何个体物种面临的遗传问题的风险，并将其与建议缓解这些问题的最佳方案的框架联系起来。然后，我们将使用英国重要的保护物种来测试和改进这种方法。我们的第四个目标将提供选择人类辅助动植物从一个地方到另一个地方的个体来源的标准协议。我们将开发一个系统来记录这些易位的成功和失败，以便更好地为未来的指南提供信息。最后，我们的关键目标是让所有这些信息都变得可访问。我们将制作方便用户使用的手册，旨在解释保护中的遗传问题，并将制作网页，帮助保护经理制定纳入遗传方法的管理策略。

项目成果

The fitness consequences of inbreeding in natural populations and their implications for species conservation - a systematic map

自然种群近亲繁殖的适应性后果及其对物种保护的影响 - 系统图

• DOI: 10.1186/s13750-015-0031-x
• 发表时间: 2015
• 期刊: Environmental Evidence
• 影响因子: 3.3
• 作者: Neaves L

A systematic review of phenotypic responses to between-population outbreeding

对群体间近交的表型反应的系统评价

• DOI: 10.1186/2047-2382-2-13
• 发表时间: 2013
• 期刊: Environmental Evidence
• 影响因子: 3.3
• 作者: Whitlock R

Consequences of in-situ strategies for the conservation of plant genetic diversity

• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.08.006
• 发表时间: 2016-11-01
• 期刊: BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
• 影响因子: 5.9
• 作者: Whitlock, R.;Hipperson, H.;Burke, T.
• 通讯作者: Burke, T.

Implications of climate change for genetic diversity and evolvability in the UK

气候变化对英国遗传多样性和进化性的影响

• 发表时间: 2013
• 作者: Neaves LE